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Tonio Borg – Libya experiencing first steps of reconciliation
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tonio Borg stated that signs of reconciliation are emerging in Libya as the country strives to move forward after 42 years of dictatorship.
Whilst addressing the Foreign Affairs Council of EU Member States, Tonio Borg referred to reports by Maltese journalists in Libya on attempts of recollection of weapons currently in the hands of rebels. “The fact that no signs of dismantling of the police force have been observed, points to the fact that reconciliation efforts are bearing fruit. The process of the release of Libyan frozen assets is being implemented effectively, releasing the desperately needed funds by the NTC to stabilise the situation,” Borg said.
Borg added that Malta has re-opened its embassy in Tripoli and that a number of visas to Libyans have been since granted. In his intervention, he reiterated Malta’s keen interest to contribute to border management control initiatives to be undertaken in the near future by the EU.
Borg described Tunisia as a success story in light of the EU-led Tunisia Task Force which agreed on a financial programme of €4 billion over a period of 3 years.
Turning his attention on the attacks held on Sunday night in Egypt and which has left 23 Coptic Christians dead, Borg said it was necessary to ensure that the transformation in Egypt takes the right course.
The Foreign Affairs Council stated that it is deeply disappointed that the UN Security Council has not yet been able to adopt a resolution condemning the latest developments of ongoing brutal abuses in Syria and reiterated that the EU will pursue further its targeted sanctions policy against the Syrian regime.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs also discussed possible actions that could be taken by the EU in the event of a guilty verdict against former Ukrainian Prime Minister Julia Tymoshenko, to be delivered in the coming days. There was a general consensus that such a verdict would negatively impinge on Ukraine’s European perspective for the future.
The current political situation in Belarus was also discussed, calling for the immediate release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners, the majority of which were teenagers.
